How Nick Storz made the transition from LSU baseball to full-time football

After three seasons as a pitcher for LSU’s baseball program, Nick Storz made the tough decision to leave the pitcher’s mound behind and pour all of his focus into LSU football.

Storz already had one season of LSU football under his belt, having joined the team in summer 2020 as a tight end, the same position he played in high school. He played in all 10 games of the 2020 season as a member of the punt coverage unit, and he was in the starting offensive lineup for the final bout of the season against Ole Miss.

Even so, the decision to transition fully to football was a somewhat unexpected one. He came to LSU only toying with the idea of stepping foot on the gridiron.

“Ever since I got to LSU, the thought of playing football for the Tigers always crossed my mind,” Storz says. “It actually got brought up a couple of times my first year here. I was always interested, but I wanted to give baseball its fair shot and give that 100% of my time.”

But once the pandemic reached Baton Rouge and the remainder of the 2020 baseball season was canceled, Storz decided to take advantage of the moment.

“I reached out to (Director of Athletic Training) Jack Marucci, and he was the one who actually set up the meeting between me and Coach O. I told him I would love to have the opportunity to join the football team, and he said he would love to give me a shot. I worked out with the football team that summer, and they put me on scholarship. It’s been a blessing.”

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Storz was a top MLB prospect right out of high school, and he was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 31st round of the 2017 MLB Draft. But he was enticed by the idea of playing for a different team of Tigers, and he elected to enroll at LSU and play college baseball instead.

Storz was an effective pitcher for LSU, but he regularly battled injuries that limited his play time and resulted in three arm-related surgeries.

While those injuries were a serious setback for his baseball career, he’s optimistic they won’t hamper his performance on the football field.

“Obviously, baseball and football are two totally different types of training,” Storz says. “It’s more of a physical mindset on the football side of things, so that’s the biggest difference in terms of coaching. I consider myself more of a run-blocking tight end, and when you play in the SEC, you have to be able to compete. I just want to get faster and stronger overall.”

Weighing 260 pounds and standing 6-feet-5-inches, Storz’s imposing build should make him a welcome addition to the team, providing crucial depth in the tight end position.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Storz believes big things are on the horizon for the Fighting Tigers.

“This year has been a total change for LSU football,” Storz says. “Everybody is a lot more dedicated, focused and ready to go for this season. There’s a different feel in the building. Everybody has one goal in mind, and that’s proving who we are again. The new coordinators are awesome—creative, hands-on and high-energy. It’s going to be a fun season.”

This article was originally published in the Tiger Pride 2021 issue of 225 magazine.